Puducherry has become testing ground for BJP’s anti-people policies: Udhayanidhi

Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday claimed that the BJP wanted to take full control of the Union Territory just as it wanted to gain control of Tamil Nadu through Edappadi K Palaniswami-led AIADMK.

Campaigning for the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance candidates, Udhayanidhi said Puducherry people never allowed hate politics “in this land of love”.

“Today in such UT, the infiltration of fascist BJP forces has increased significantly. It has become a testing ground for all of the BJP’s anti-people policies. It is riding on the shoulders of AINRC, just as it is riding on the shoulders of Palaniswami-led AIADMK in Tamil Nadu,” he said.

The BJP’s anti-people policies include the National Education Policy, and through it, the caste-based education system (kula kalvi thittam) has been introduced, he alleged.

“They are implementing schemes that would ruin the future generations in Puducherry. But Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin effectively halted the BJP’s conspiracies from entering the State,” Udhayanidhi said while addressing a poll rally in Mudaliarpet.

“We should prove on this April 9 election that Puducherry is a land that lives with self-respect,” the DMK youth wing secretary appealed and flayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his oft-repeated double-engine Government remark and said this “double-engine sarkar has done precious little for growth”.

“But the single-engine Dravidian model Government is not like that. Stalin has ensured double-digit economic growth of 11.19 per cent,” he said.

He accused the Centre of lacking any genuine interest in the people of the Union Territory, and this was the reason why it has not given statehood to Puducherry despite the Assembly passing resolutions on 16 occasions.

“Did they fulfil the long-pending demand for statehood? PM Modi doesn’t have the heart. They want Puducherry to be under their control, like in TN through Palaniswami,” he alleged.

Alleging “interference in every matter” by the Puducherry Governor, the DMK leader said there was no value for a duly elected Government in non-BJP-ruled States.

“It has given all powers to the governor here. The governor will be powerless if statehood is granted. In short, they are operating the Union Territory through remote control from Delhi. If this situation ought to change, then the people should support the DMK-Congress alliance,” he urged.

He further said, “The BJP thinks it can rule Puducherry through the Governor. Usually, the Opposition party members stage a walkout from the Assembly, but in Tamil Nadu, the Governor walked out for the first time. In Puducherry, today, in every matter, there is interference from the Governor. The elected Government has no value here. The Governor appointed by the Union Government decides everything here,” he alleged.

To put it simply, the BJP wanted to rule Puducherry from Delhi. “If you want this situation to change, then support the DMK, Congress, and VCK alliance in this election,” Udhayanidhi said.

He claimed that the Union Government declined to accept a demand for 25 per cent reservation for students of this state in Puducherry University.

There were allegations of corruption against the NDA Government in Puducherry. “There was corruption in public works department contracts, corruption in providing laptop schemes to students, corruption in smart city construction, and in all departments,” he alleged.

“Just as we are ready to drive away the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu in the upcoming elections, it is time for you to drive away the NDA alliance in Puducherry as well. The election will put an end to the dominance of the BJP, don’t forget that,” Udhayanidhi said and called upon the people to ensure DMK-combine’s victory in all 30 constituencies.